Toilet Splash Guard

ABSTRACT

A toilet splash guard is provided. The present invention is designed to prevent liquid from splashing from the toilet bowl when a male user urinates. The present toilet splash guard comprises a planar shield having an outer edge conforming to the curvature of the toilet bowl and an inner edge defining an open central region through which the user may urinate. At least one U-shaped attachment means is disposed on the planar shield for removably affixing the present invention to the rim of the toilet. Lastly, a handle extends from the planar shield, allowing the user to remove the present invention from the toilet bowl without having to touch any component of the device that has come in contact with the interior of the toilet.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to toilet accessories. More specifically, the present invention relates to toilet splash guards.

Males often have problems with urine or other liquid splashing from a toilet bowl when urinating into a conventional toilet. The liquid splashing therefrom is unhygienic and generally undesirable to get on oneself. Furthermore, urine splashing from the toilet generally makes the bathroom smell poorly and is not aesthetically pleasing. Therefore, there is a need for a device that can physically block liquid from exiting the toilet interior and splashing onto individuals or the area surrounding the toilet.

Various types of toilet splash guards exist in the prior art, but they are generally not as convenient to install as the present invention. Toilet splash guards in the prior art are either designed only for specific types of users, or are not freely removable. Some toilet splash guards comprise flexible members attached to the sides of the toilet, but they only prevent liquid from splashing out of the sides of the toilet and furthermore still permit liquid to splash out of the toilet bowl onto the toilet seat. Other types of toilet splash guards prevent liquid from splashing out of the front of the toilet when users sit down to urinate, but they are otherwise ineffective at preventing liquid from splashing out of the toilet when a male stands to urinate into the toilet. Yet more types of toilet splash guards protect the toilet seat from splashing liquid, but otherwise fail to prevent liquid from splashing out of the toilet and coming in contact with the user and the area surrounding the toilet bowl.

The present invention provides a novel toilet splash guard that is removably affixed to a toilet. The present toilet splash guard comprises a planar shield that is held in a parallel relation to the water level within the toilet bowl by at least one attachment means extending therefrom. The attachment means are U-shaped so that they can be affixed to the rim of the toilet. The present invention further has a handle extending from the planar shield, which allows the present invention to be lifted from the toilet bowl without the user having to touch any part of the device that was in contact with the interior of the toilet. The planar shield physically blocks splashing liquid from the interior of the toilet from exiting the toilet bowl, thereby protecting the toilet seat, the user, and the surrounding area from the liquid.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Devices have been disclosed in the prior art that relate to toilet splash guards. These include devices that have been patented and published in patent application publications. These devices generally relate to members of various shapes and configurations designed to deflect or otherwise block liquid from splashing from the toilet bowl. The following is a list of devices deemed most relevant to the present disclosure, which are herein described for the purposes of highlighting and differentiating the unique aspects of the present invention, and further highlighting the drawbacks existing in the prior art.

Certain devices, such as U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2010/0263115 and 2005/0241053, include shield members that are designed to fit in the forward gap in the toilet seat. These devices are designed to prevent splashing from geriatric or disabled men who have to sit down to urinate. These devices do not prevent liquid from splashing from the toilet bowl for males who stand to urinate.

Other types of devices, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,550,075 and 5,373,589, provide flexible members disposed on the side of the toilet. These members unfurl when the toilet seat is lifted, creating a barrier on the side of the toilet bowl. However, these devices do not surround the entire perimeter of the toilet bowl and thus do not adequately protect the user and the area around the toilet from splashing liquid.

Finally, other types of toilet splash guards can only be used a single time, such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,010,497, or protect only the toilet seat, such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,216,760. The present invention is freely reusable and protects the entire area surrounding the toilet.

The present invention provides a novel toilet splash guard that sits within the toilet bowl, preventing liquid from splashing from the toilet bowl regardless of the angle from which it is launched from the toilet water. The planar shield of the present invention is easy to use and install and may be used indefinitely. The attachment means extending from the planar shield are removably affixed to the toilet rim such that they do not interfere with the toilet lid or seat. Furthermore, a handle extends from the planar shield, allowing the device to be lifted from the toilet bowl without the user potentially contaminating himself. It substantially diverges in design elements from the prior art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing toilet splash guard devices. In this regard the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of toilet splash guards now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new toilet splash guard wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when urinating into a conventional toilet.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved toilet splash guard device that has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a toilet splash guard device that prevents urine and other liquids from exiting the toilet bowl.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a toilet splash guard device that is removable and transportable.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a toilet splash guard device that does not scratch or otherwise damage the toilet when in use.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a toilet splash guard device that improves the cleanliness of bathrooms.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the present invention affixed to a toilet, with a call out showing the attachment means.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the present invention placed within a complementary storage container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the toilet splash guard. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for preventing urine and other liquid from splashing out of the toilet bowl when in use. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there are shown a perspective view of the present invention and a perspective view of the present invention affixed to a toilet. The present invention is designed to be affixed to a toilet to prevent urine and other liquids from splashing out of the toilet bowl when male users urinate into the toilet. The present toilet splash guard comprises a planar shield 11 having an inner edge 14 and an outer edge 15, at least one attachment means 12 disposed on said planar shield 11, and a handle 13 extending from said planar shield 11. The planar shield 11 portion of the present invention is composed of material that is stiff enough to remain in a substantially horizontally-erect position over the toilet bowl water, but no claim is made as to the precise material. The present invention may be provided in a number of different sizes and shapes in order to conform to different types of toilets.

The planar shield 11 may be provided in a number of different shapes and configurations, but it has an outer edge 15 adapted to conform to the curvature of a toilet bowl 33 and an inner edge 14 defining an open central region 21. The open central region 21 may be configured in a wide variety of sizes and shapes, but it is preferably a substantially elliptical shape with an open bottom portion 16. In alternative embodiments of the present invention, the open central region 21 is fully enclosed by the planar shield 11 and does not have an open bottom portion 16. The open central region 21 is large enough so that a male can urinate therethrough when the present invention is affixed to a conventional toilet 31. The planar shield 11 is designed to prevent liquid from splashing out of the toilet 31 when a male user urinates by acting as an overhang over the liquid in the toilet bowl 33. Without the present invention, some of the liquid from the toilet bowl 33 would be ejected therefrom when a male user urinates due to the force from the urine stream. The present toilet splash guard provides a barrier that physically blocks the liquid from being ejected.

The present invention further has at least one attachment means 12 extending substantially perpendicularly from the planar shield 11, which are removably affixed to the toilet rim 32 and hold the planar shield 11 in a horizontal position over the toilet bowl 33, substantially parallel to the liquid level in the toilet bowl 33, so that the planar shield 11 can function as an overhang. The attachment means 12 generally comprises a U-shaped member that has a width conforming to the width of the toilet rim 32, allowing the present invention to be held securely in place. The attachment means 12 may be provided in a variety of shapes and sizes in order to accommodate different types of toilets. The U-shaped design of the attachment means 12 allows the toilet seat and lid to still close over the toilet 31, maintaining normal function of the toilet 31. The attachment means 12 are preferably composed of smooth material that will not scratch or otherwise damage the toilet 31 when affixed to the toilet rim 32. In an alternate embodiment, the attachment means 12 may be composed of flexible material, which allows the U-shaped design of the attachment means 12 to be molded to more precisely conform to the shape of the specific toilet rim 32 to which the present invention is being affixed.

The present invention also has a handle 13 extending substantially perpendicularly from the planar shield 11 portion of the present invention. The handle 13 has a first end, which is attached to the planar shield 11, and a second end, which has a means for a user to grip the handle 13. The handle 13 preferably extends substantially vertically from the planar shield 11 such that it does not touch the toilet bowl 33 or rim 32 and then extends substantially horizontally beyond the perimeter of the toilet 31, through the space between the toilet rim 32 and the toilet seat 34 such that is does not touch either. The handle 13 is designed so that a user can remove the present invention from the toilet bowl 33 without having to touch any part of the toilet bowl 33, which makes the device more sanitary to use. As depicted, the handle 13 has an elongated portion extending from the planar shield 11 at an angle and an open gripping portion, however no claim is made as to the exact design of the handle 13. The handle 13 is designed so that the portion that the users grips to lift the present invention from the toilet 31 is never in contact with the toilet rim 32, toilet bowl 33, or any other portion of the toilet 31 at any point and preferably so that it does not interfere with the closing of the toilet seat and lid.

The outer edge 15 of the planar shield 11 is flush against the walls of the toilet bowl 33 such that when the toilet 31 is flushed, the water originating from just below the toilet rim 32 washes over the planar shield 11, removing any liquid thereon. The ability of the present invention to be washed off via normal flushing of the toilet prolongs the length of time that the device can be used. Furthermore, the present invention is more aesthetically pleasing to look at if it is washed off automatically after each use.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a perspective view of the present invention placed in a storage container. The present invention may be stored within a storage container 41 when not in use. The storage container 41 generally comprises a roughly U-shaped container that prevents any liquid left on the planar shield 11 of the present invention from coming in contact with the bathroom floor, or any other location.

In use an individual places the attachment means of the present invention on the toilet rim, holding the planar shield portion of the device in a substantially parallel relationship to the level of the water contained in the toilet bowl. The user then urinates through the open central region of the device. The planar shield acts as an overhang, blocking liquid from splashing out of the toilet bowl as the user urinates into the toilet. When the user is finished urinating, the user then flushes the toilet as normal. If the user wishes to remove the device, the user simply grips the handle portion of the device and lifts the present invention from the toilet bowl without fear of contaminating his hands because the handle has not come in contact with the inner portion of the toilet at any point.

It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 

I claim:
 1. A toilet splash guard, comprising: a planar shield having an outer edge adapted to conform to a toilet bowl and an inner edge defining an open central region; at least one attachment means extending from said planar shield, said attachment means adapted to removably affix to a toilet rim.
 2. The toilet splash guard of claim 1, further comprising a handle portion having a first end and a second end, said first end attached to said planar shield.
 3. The toilet splash guard of claim 1, wherein said attachment means are flexible.
 4. The toilet splash guard of claim 1, wherein said second end extends between a toilet rim and a toilet seat, without touching either of said toilet rim or said toilet seat.
 5. The toilet splash guard of claim 1, wherein said outer edge is flush against a toilet bowl such that when a toilet is flushed, water from said toilet washes over said planar shield.
 6. The toilet splash guard of claim 1, wherein said open central region is substantially enclosed by said inner edge.
 7. The toilet splash guard of claim 1, wherein said open central region has an open bottom portion. 